Business Class Podcast: How Mike Testa Turned Sacramento into a Destination Worth Talking About
When most people think of California, Sacramento rarely makes the top five cities on their travel list. But Mike Testa, President & CEO of Visit Sacramento, is working hard to change that—and the results speak for themselves.
In the latest episode of the Business Class podcast, I sit down with Mike to unpack his 25-year journey with the organization, from his first role in marketing to becoming CEO. Along the way, he’s helped Sacramento break visitation records—growing tourism even when other cities saw declines—by leaning into big ideas like major music festivals, large-scale sporting events, and now, hosting Europe’s largest food conference right in California’s capital.
Mike’s approach isn’t just about filling hotel rooms—it’s about rewriting perceptions. Sacramento has long been pigeonholed as a “boring government town,” but under his leadership, it’s emerging as a cultural, culinary, and creative hub. He shares how events like Aftershock and the Farm-to-Fork Festival brought more than 100,000 people into the city and why calculated risks often yield the biggest rewards.
Beyond the tourism wins, this conversation dives into leadership lessons and life philosophies:
Why empathy and curiosity are essential tools for any leader
How early travel experiences shaped Mike’s comfort with the unfamiliar
The importance of taking risks—especially when you can’t guarantee success
Why advocating for yourself and owning mistakes strengthens a team
Mike also offers a candid look at the personal side of leadership—from raising kids to making unpopular but necessary decisions for the good of the organization.
If you’ve ever wondered how a destination changes its narrative—or what it takes to keep a city growing in the face of challenges—this is an episode you’ll want to hear.
📍 Learn more about Sacramento: visitsacramento.com